Dark circles under your eyes may be shades of blue, purple, brown, or black, depending on your natural skin color. Whatever color they are, you probably want them gone!
Even though they aren’t medically harmful, most people feel that dark circles make them tired, older, or even unhealthy. Fortunately, many methods are available to get rid of dark circles, ranging from home remedies to professional treatment.
Keep reading to learn how the skin care experts at The Derm can help reduce the appearance of dark circles or eliminate them entirely.
How are dark circles formed?
Dark circles under the eyes affect people of all ages, races, and skin types. Before we introduce the best ways to get rid of dark circles, here are some reasons why they form in the first place.
Aging
Aging is the most common cause of dark circles under the eyes. As you age, the skin below your eyes loosens and becomes thinner, making the blood vessels under your skin more visible. Hollowed areas called tear troughs can also develop, causing shadows that increase the appearance of puffy eyes.
Fatigue
Fatigue is another common cause of dark circles. When you don’t get enough sleep, the oxygen levels in your eyes decrease, causing blood vessels to dilate. Dilated blood vessels are darker and more visible through your skin.
Sleep deprivation can also create fluid build-up under the eyes, making them appear puffy. The shadows from puffy eyelids often make dark circles look worse.
Sun exposure
Here’s yet another reason to protect your face from the sun! Prolonged sun exposure causes your body to create excess melanin – a condition known as post-inflammatory pigmentation or UV-induced hyperpigmentation. Some excess melanin may deposit under your eyes, causing dark circles.
Allergies
“Allergic shiners” are dark circles under your eyes that appear due to nasal allergies. While your immune system fights off allergens, you may develop swelling in the inner lining of your nose. This swelling slows blood flow in the veins around the air-filled cavities by your nose and under your eyes. When the veins swell, these areas look darker and puffy.
Rubbing or scratching eyes
Rubbing or scratching your eyes may cause the thin skin under your eyes to swell and your blood vessels to break, resulting in dark circles.
Genetics
Studies show that dark circles under the eyes can run in families, especially for people with medium-dark or dark skin tones.
How to treat dark circles
Home remedies
There are many home remedies that can help get rid of dark circles under your eyes, including:
- Apply cold spoons or chilled cucumber slices to your eyes to reduce puffiness and shrink any dilated blood vessels.
- Try to get at least seven hours of sleep every night to prevent shadows from appearing around your eyes.
- Facials are cosmetic treatments that improve skin health and keep your skin clean and younger-looking. Facials that include massage around the eye area can help improve circulation and lessen the appearance of dark circles – and best of all, they feel great!
Medical treatments
The Derm offers numerous solutions to remove dark circles quickly and even permanently. Your options may include:
- – Topical creams containing vitamin C, bleaching agents such as hydroquinone, and other skin care products can help lighten the appearance of dark circles under your eyes.
- – Chemical peels help treat many types of skin issues, from acne to age spots to wrinkles. Because they use alpha-hydroxy acids, they can also reduce dark pigmentation under your eyes. Chemical peels are available for every skin type and tolerance, and most take less than an hour to perform.
- – Laser treatment uses high-energy beams of light to vaporize dark spots, fine lines, wrinkles, and sun-damaged skin without invasive facelift surgery. Certain laser treatments target small areas while leaving the surrounding skin untouched, which is ideal for treating dark circles under the eyes. Ask your dermatologist for more details.
Fight dark circles at The Derm
If you’re sick and tired of looking sick and tired, The Derm can help! Let our skin care experts create a personalized treatment plan to get rid of the dark circles under your eyes.
At The Derm, we treat a wide range of skin conditions, including dark circles and other forms of hyperpigmentation. To learn more, schedule an appointment at one of our convenient locations in Glenview or Park Ridge today.
